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Vaccine:
shot, protection against a disease
CDC Original Sentences:
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination.
Plain Language Sentences:
Your body needs about two weeks to build protection against the flu after you get a shot or spray in your nose to prevent the flu.
Entry Last Modified 7 November 2016
Valid:
good for, lasts
CDC Original Sentences:
The certificate of yellow fever vaccination is valid for 10 years, beginning 10 days after the date of primary vaccination.
Plain Language Sentences:
The yellow fever certificate lasts for 10 years, beginning 10 days after you got the shot.
Entry Last Modified 7 November 2016
Virus:
germs that need a living thing, such as people, animals, or plants, to survive. The germs get into a cell, take it over, and force it to copy the germs so they increase in number and spread through the body.
CDC Original Sentences:
The rabies virus is transmitted through saliva or brain/nervous system tissue.
Plain Language Sentences:
You get rabies germs from the spit, brain, or nervous system tissue of an animal that is sick with rabies.
Entry Notes: Depending on the audience, "virus" may be a familiar term. When the communication objective includes explaining the difference between bacteria and viruses, you may need to use "bacteria" and "virus" rather than "germs." You can use the plain language explanations to help readers understand the differences. (Also see: Bacteria)
Entry Last Modified 7 November 2016
If you do audience testing of these words or other public health or medical words, please send your results to the health literacy staff in CDC’s Office of Communications at clearcommunication@cdc.gov.
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